End of the year/decade blog post part 2: The Top 100 songs of the 2010's!!!

Here it is, everyone! The moment you've all been waiting for! The top 100 songs of the entire decade!! Hope you like it!!

100. “Red Hands” – Walk Off the Earth
99. “Fever” – The Black Keys
98. “Social Cues” – Cage the Elephant
97. “It’s Time” – Imagine Dragons
96. “The High Road” – Broken Bells
95. “Ready to Let Go” – Cage the Elephant
94. “Sedona” – Houndmouth
93. “Dark Necessities” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
92. “Mess Around” – Cage the Elephant
91. “Dreams” – Beck
90. “Gloria” – The Lumineers
89. “Chocolate” – The 1975
88. “Trouble” – Cage the Elephant
87. “Carry On” – fun.
86. “Cleopatra” – The Lumineers
85. “San Francisco” – The Mowgli’s
84. “Mess Is Mine” – Vance Joy
83. “You Worry Me” – Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats
82. “Lo/Hi” – The Black Keys
81. “Stubborn Love” – The Lumineers
80. “Come A Little Closer” – Cage the Elephant
79. “First” – Cold War Kids
78. “Fire” – Barns Courtney
77. “No Roots” – Alice Merton
76. “Broken” – lovelytheband
75. “Unsteady” – X Ambassadors
74. “Don’t Wanna Fight” – Alabama Shakes
73. “Go” – The Black Keys
72. “Trojans” – Atlas Genius
71. “Angela” – The Lumineers
70. “Saw Lightning” – Beck
69. “Ship to Wreck” – Florence and The Machine
68. “Way Down We Go” – Kaleo
67. “Demons” – Imagine Dragons
66. “Live In the Moment” – Portugal. The Man
65. “Move” – Saint Motel
64. “Out of My League” – Fitz and The Tantrums
63. “Radioactive” – Kings of Leon
62. “Come With Me Now” – Kongos
61. “Cigarette Daydreams” – Cage the Elephant
60. “Ophelia” – The Lumineers
59. “Cough Syrup” – Young the Giant
58. “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” – Foster the People
57. “I Bet My Life” – Imagine Dragons
56. “My Type” – Saint Motel
55. “Human” – Rag ‘N’ Bone Man
54. “Dangerous” – Big Data
53. “Anna Sun” – Walk the Moon
52. “Believer” – Imagine Dragons
51. “Sweater Weather” – The Neighbourhood
50. “Up All Night” – Beck
49. “Safe And Sound” – Capital Cities
48. “The Walker” – Fitz and The Tantrums
47. “Get Lucky” – Daft Punk
46. “Tongue Tied” – Grouplove
45. “Some Nights” – fun.
44. “Budapest” – George Ezra
43. “Hold On” – Alabama Shakes
42. “Down By the Water” – The Decemberists
41. “Shine” – Mondo Cozmo
40. “Mountain Sound” – Of Monsters and Men
39. “Lover of the Light” – Mumford and Sons
38. “Lost In My Mind” – The Head and the Heart
37. “Stolen Dance” – Milky Chance
36. “Sweet Disposition” – The Temper Trap
35. “S.O.B.” – Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats
34. “MoneyGrabber” – Fitz and The Tantrums
33. “Best Day of My Life” – American Authors
32. “Roll Away Your Stone” – Mumford and Sons
31. “Team” – Lorde
30. “Hero” – Family of the Year
29. “Gone Gone Gone” – Phillip Phillips
28. “On Top of the World” – Imagine Dragons
27. “Wake Me Up” – Avicii
26. “Shake It Out” – Florence and The Machine
25. “Wish I Knew You” – The Revivalists
24. “Home” – Phillip Phillips
23. “Renegades” – X Ambassadors
22. “Ex’s And Oh’s” – Elle King
21. “Gold On the Ceiling” – The Black Keys
20. “Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys
19. “Shut Up And Dance” – Walk the Moon
18. “Pompeii” – Bastille
17. “Howlin’ For You” – The Black Keys
16. “Lonely Boy” – The Black Keys
15. “I Will Wait” – Mumford and Sons
14. “Riptide” – Vance Joy
13. “Home” – Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
12. “Little Talks” – Of Monsters and Men
11. “The Cave” – Mumford and Sons
10. “Little Lion Man” – Mumford and Sons
9. “Take Me to Church” – Hozier
8. “Dog Days Are Over” – Florence and The Machine
7. “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers
6. “Feel It Still” – Portugal. The Man
5. “Radioactive” – Imagine Dragons
4. “Royals” – Lorde
3. “Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster the People
2. “Tighten Up” – The Black Keys

Annddd....the number one song of the whole decade isss...


"SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW" BY GOTYE!!!


Happy Holidays and Happy New Year everyone!! And happy new decade, too! See y'all next year for more blogging...and my 10th blog-iversary, once February rolls around!! :)

End of the year/decade blog special part 1: The Top 20 Songs of 2019

Here they are!


20. "Overexcited" by Guster
19. "Almost (Sweet Music)" by Hozier
18. "Alligator" by Of Monsters and Men
17. "Moderation" by Florence and The Machine
16. "Superposition" by Young the Giant
15. "Saw Lightning" by Beck
14. "Peach Fuzz" by Caamp
13. "Movement" by Hozier
12. "This Life" by Vampire Weekend
11. "Social Cues" by Cage the Elephant
10. "Doin' Time" by Lana Del Rey
9. "Ready to Let Go" by Cage the Elephant
8. "Life In the City" by The Lumineers
7. "No Bullets Spent" by Spoon
6. "Lo/Hi" by The Black Keys
5. "Stay High" by Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes)
4. "Go" by The Black Keys
3. "Missed Connection" by The Head and The Heart
2. "Harmony Hall" by Vampire Weekend

annndd...the number one song of 2019 is..."GLORIA" BY THE LUMINEERS!!!

But that's not ALL, folks!! Sometime this weekend (or perhaps early next week - haven't decided yet) I will be posting the big one...the Top 100 of the entire DECADE of the 2010's!! Stay tuned to find out where your faves landed!!

New songs for the day before Thanksgiving 2019

here they are:


"Armageddon's Back In Town" by Drive-by Truckers: Though it is not the first time that contemporary Southern rock outfit, Drive-by Truckers, have dealt with dark subject matter, their latest song, "Armageddon's Back In Town", is probably the first one that deals directly with the concept of the end of the world, as can be evidenced from its title alone. As lead singer Patterson Hood deals with the stress of what has now become everyday life for him and countless others, a lively and fiery Southern rock sound blares in the background, defining the essence of the song. Armageddon seems like it's always been lingering in the shadows of DBT, whose previous subjects have included the devil, protest, and even AIDS, so for Patterson to claim that it's "back in town" seems dubious when it seems to have been there all along for them. Perhaps the one thing that can be said is that "Armageddon" has gotten bigger as time has gone on for DBT.


"Fortune" by Wye Oak: Baltimore indie-pop/rock duo, Wye Oak, are a name that is often mentioned but rarely heard among adult alt radio programmers. Until now, that is. With "Fortune", Wye Oak have finally gotten the attention they've deserved on the Triple A format. And why (no pun intended) is that?! Perhaps it's the haunting combination of slinky, shimmering guitar and lead singer Jenn Wasner's sweet but shaky vocals, both of which are backed by a catchy rhythm. Jenn's yearning lyrics, which never seem to get fully resolved in spite of her earnest searching for answers, might be another part of the equation as to why "Fortune" has captured the public's attention like no Wye Oak song has previously.


"Mariners Apartment Complex" by Lana Del Rey: To paraphrase Patti Smith, Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not Lana Del Rey's. Patti Smith, particularly the softer side of her music, might have just inspired Lana Del Rey in more ways than one here on LDR's latest song, "Mariners Apartment Complex". For one, there's the lyrical theme of struggling with one's faith in a quest to understand oneself on a deeper level, grappling between the sacred and the profane as Patti has done, as well as other rock poets like Leonard Cohen (the song has even been compared lyrically to Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel # 2"). Musically, it sounds like it's evocative of songs from the mid 1970's, during which both Cohen and Smith were active, relevant musicians. Lana uses the name "Jesus" both sincerely ("kiss the sky and whisper to Jesus") and blasphemously ("I f**ked up, I know that, but Jesus, can't a girl just do the best she can?"), perhaps to represent just how conflicted she feels about love...and about religion and spirituality as well (the phrase "big-time believer", used midway through the song, could reference both love and religion). The world might never understand Lana Del Rey fully...but maybe she prefers being misunderstood.


"Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying)" by The Raconteurs: With the possible exception of their 2008 song, "Old Enough", The Raconteurs have never sounded as close to Southern rock as they have on their latest song, "Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying)". The song contains echoes of Southern rock staples like Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone" and The Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post", as Jack White tells a sorrowful tale of how downtrodden he feels sometimes. At only the second line into the song, White claims that the "only trouble is it's doomed from the start", "it" being his heart. Jack has really delved into his inner bluesman with his latest record, but this one feels like the blues-iest and most forlorn he's had to offer so far!


"The Fool" by Overcoats: It seems as though Sleater-Kinney's switch earlier this year from raw, guitar centered punk rock to more melodic yet still aggressive electro-rock has influenced other musicians as well, most notably the all-girl New York duo, Overcoats. "The Fool" is not a song for fools, unlike what its title might indicate. Instead, it is a song for people who want to break free from societal moulds and boldly declare their individuality like none before or since. The duo state that fools are what they do NOT want to be during the chorus of the song, and are tired of "bending over backwards" for others. In doing so, Overcoats have created an excellent song for marching forward into the next decade. One small step for woman, one giant leap for womankind!

New songs for November 20th 2019

here they are:


"Count On Me" by The Lone Bellow: Ever since their debut back in 2013, The Lone Bellow have always been about mellow sounds and sweet harmonies, but their latest song, "Count On Me", has that even more than most Lone Bellow songs have! With a bittersweet, almost heartbreaking sound slightly reminiscent of Tom Waits' "Hold On", "Count On Me" is a song that attests to how powerful friendship can truly be! During the last minute or so of this almost two-and-half-minute song, "Count On Me" starts to rev up a little bit and becoming more heartwarming than heartbreaking, but the sentiment of the song remains the same!


"It Might Be Time" by Tame Impala: If Supertramp's "The Logical Song" were remade into a nightclub rave type of song, you'd probably get Tame Impala's "It Might Be Time". And just what is it, you might ask, that it might "be time" for? Well, according to the song, it might be time to face how we're all getting older by the minute. For a band who has been around only since 2013, that's a pretty heavy thought to have! But time catches up to all of us eventually. Might as well have some good music and enjoy the ride while it lasts, right?

New songs for November 13th, 2019

here they are:


"Alabaster" by The Wood Brothers: When The Wood Brothers go for more of a slick, soulful groove than they do for the "jam band" stuff they've become known for, they seem to be most successful. The funky and surprisingly catchy "Happiness Jones" from last year proved this. During the last few weeks of the 2010's, The Wood Brothers prove their worth in funkiness once again with "Alabaster". "Alabaster", in this case, refers to a town in Alabama, and when the Woods claim that the subject of their song "won't be going back to Alabaster", they mean that she won't be going back to a place where oppression of sexual rights and oppression of women's rights run rampant. I think it's safe to say that no one wants to go back to Alabaster!


"NYE" by Joseph: "NYE", in this case, is pronounced "en-why-ee", not as "Nye" like Bill the Science Guy. It stands for "New Year's Eve" and serves as a coming of age song centering around the disappointment the lead singer feels about said holiday. Frustration is expressed that the person she is with is just using it as an excuse to get drunk (as she might be as well) and that she really doesn't feel older than she was before. The disillusionment and deconstruction of a beloved holiday. Is this really what we need to close out the 2010's?! Perhaps it is, if only to give us a wake-up call to move ourselves forward into the next decade.


"Unchained" by Devon Gilfillian: Neo-soul extraordinaire Devon Gilfillian made a big splash on adult alt radio through spring and summer of this year with the super-catchy "Get Out And Get It". The aching ballad, "Even Though It Hurts", was slated to be his next single, but unfortunately, it tanked. Thankfully, "Unchained" seems to be working in Devon's favor so far, having already hit 16 radio stations within its first week on the air! Perhaps this is because of just what a powerful song "Unchained" is. The song seems to be a cry for justice, perhaps both in a romantic way and a racial way, but whichever subject it's supposed to represent, it retains its strength! Mixing soul, hip-hop, and rock into a potent fabric, "Unchained" begs for freedom during a time when many souls feel chained and broken!

New songs for November 6th 2019

here they are:


"Come On" by Mondo Cozmo: As cool and edgy as "Black Cadillac" was, there's probably a reason its success crashed. Mondo Cozmo's latest song, "Come On", has two important words that "Black Cadillac" didn't: Anna Faris! No, she doesn't sing on the track, but she is in its video, which seems to have gotten a lot of attention specifically for that reason (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2FImefxs9s). The song is otherwise kinda cool, but doesn't have much to offer other than a Pennsylvania native pretending to sound like a Brit.


"Go Crazy" by G. Love (featuring Keb' Mo'): G. Love has a rather eccentric approach to the blues, while Keb' Mo's is more on the "traditional" side, but anyone who knows either musician knows how much they love the blues! The song has more of the laid back vibes that Mo' has been known for, but the "Looney Tunes"-ish music video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Licd-XbHc) seems like it's more suited to G. Love's kookier style. Both musicians look like "Merrie Melodies" cartoons from the 1930's in the song's video. Why? Darned if I know! But it's still pretty entertaining both to watch and to hear!


"Trouble In Paradise" by Rufus Wainwright: Rufus was pretty active in the music biz in the '00s, but until this point, he had only released one record during the 2010's, so I thought he had called it quits for awhile. After 7 years of absence, Rufus is back! Mixing the twang of George Harrison with the elegant piano-pop of Elton John, "Trouble In Paradise" seems like the sort of song Elton could write AND perform! The song reflects on the fashion industry, and how critical Rufus feels towards it. While most of the big reunions being poised for the 2020's tend to focus on hard rock, Rufus offers us some musical calm amidst the brewing storm (though perhaps "reunion" is the wrong word to use for Rufus, since he's only one person). Hopefully, more folks on the fluffier, prettier side of the rock spectrum will take his lead pretty soon. In the meantime, at least Rufus is there to offer us paradise amongst a sea of troubled bands with "Trouble In Paradise".

Songs for the day before Halloween 2019!!

here they are:


“Blind Leading the Blind” by Mumford and Sons: Midway through the 2010’s, Mumford and Sons decided they were tired of people pigeonholing them into the folk-rock category, so they got more of a “rock” sound with songs like “The Wolf”. Just as it seemed like M & S were finally starting to settle on a more acoustic based sound again towards the end of the decade, the quartet surprise us yet again by releasing what sounds like a U2 song with a banjo in the chorus! That’s right, in “Blind Leading the Blind”, Mumford and Sons’ two worlds collide! It seems to have done the trick for much of their fanbase, who favor their decision to meld all their previous sounds into one. In keeping with the theme of many songs from the mid to late 2010’s, “Blind Leading the Blind” laments the current generation, even opening with the words, “My generation’s stuck in the mirror”, immediately followed by “forget about ‘poor’ ‘cause I don’t like the word”. We are indeed a selfish, deceptive, and all-around desperate bunch of people these days, aren’t we?


“Misery” by Michigander: “Michigander”, in case you were wondering, simply means “person from Michigan”, just like “Californian” means “person from California”, and yes, they actually do hail from Michigan. It’s not just a clever name. Their debut song, “Misery”, gives me vibes that are similar to Snow Patrol or early Coldplay, with just a hint of latter-day Cage the Elephant tossed in for good measure. It is a short song without a lot of lyrical depth that talks about a breakup, as can be inferred from the title. A pleasant song nonetheless, though.


“Surefire” by Wilderado: Perhaps the best way to describe this song’s sound is “psychedelic country-rock”. It has a spaced out yet calm vibe similar to Kurt Vile (and his band, The War on Drugs). Fitting with its strung out, blissful, hippie vibe, Wilderado’s “Surefire” has a lot of nature related lyrics. “Surefire”, in this case, is not just a phrase used to describe something that is bound to happen, but a reference to the actual fire of the sun as it sets. The moon, the stars, bears, and forests are all mentioned in the first verse. Groovy, man!


“Van Horn” by Saint Motel: What exactly IS a Van Horn?! Is it like a Van Halen, but with horns in it?! No, it’s actually a town in Texas, which might explain the song’s “spicy twang” sound in the beginning. From there, it turns into the typical indie-dance-pop style of Saint Motel, but that is certainly not a bad thing. Saint Motel have been winners among the alt and adult alt crowds with “My Type” and “Move”, both of which were super catchy! “Van Horn” continues in this direction, creating yet another earworm in the Saint Motel catalog. The song actually has a clearer narrative than their other two hits, centering around the lead singer hesitating over whether to get to know the object of his affections better. As for me, I wanna get to know this song better!

New songs for October 23rd, 2019

here they are:


"Sunflower" by Vampire Weekend: Sometimes Spotify can turn me on to a song before it hits the airwaves. Vampire Weekend's ultra-funky "Sunflower" is one such case. Vampire Weekend's musical flirtation with reggae is pretty well known among their fans at this point in their career, but their love of 1970's funk and soul music might not be as apparent. "Sunflower" brings funk to the forefront. It's also the first Vampire Weekend song I've known where Ezra Koenig scats during the main guitar riff of the song. Cramming only 6 lines that read similarly to haikus into a little less than 2 and a half minutes, "Sunflower" is a fun song that goes by super quickly, and slows down towards the end. As the old saying goes, time flies when you're having fun!


"Uneventful Days" by Beck: Beck is no stranger to making music for the dance floor, but it's normally more energetic and bouncy than the more reflective tones of his latest song, "Uneventful Days". The song sounds almost like a Future Islands song with its chilled out synth vibes. Beck himself says that this ultra-mellow choice of sound is intentional, even going so far as to say that this song and its accompanying record are "meditative". With its curious, somewhat mystical lyrics like, "living in the dark, waiting for the light", "Uneventful Days" is anything but uneventful!

New songs for October 16th, 2019

here they are:


"Good Side" by Liz Phair: There was a time early on in the new millennium when mid-'90s alt-rock goddess, Liz Phair, gave her music an Avril Lavigne styled makeover. Although it brought her music to mainstream radio, not a lot of Liz fans were on board with it. Thankfully, with "Good Side", Liz is back to doing the lyrically acerbic folk-rock with attitude she does best! She's no longer sweetly moaning "why can't I?" in response to falling in love, but is instead spouting more cynical sentences like, "there are so many ways to f**k up a life", the lyrics of which actually open this billowy yet caustic song. The song has lyrical depth that is open to interpretation, too, much like her mid-'90s repertoire. When she sings "I'm gonna leave you with my good side" during the chorus, for instance, what exactly is she talking about? From the overall tone of the song, the phrase "good side" seems somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Hopefully Liz will make more songs like this one, and her early '00s output will just end up being a tiny blemish in an otherwise outstanding catalog!


"Tell the Truth" by The Avett Brothers: Stepping away from the techno-rock of their adult alt smash hit, "High Steppin'", from earlier this year, "Tell the Truth" has more bittersweet autumnal vibes to contrast with "High Steppin'"s summery sound. The title of the song seems like pretty simple advice, but Seth and Scott confess within the lyrics of the song that it's not an easy thing to do. According to the song, they have lied to many who were near and dear to them, so the song serves as a sad but true reminder of how we really don't have anything to hide, no matter how hard we try to do so. "Tell the truth to yourself", they sing, "and the rest will fall in place". Great advice!


"The Well" by Marcus King: I have not heard a bad song from blues-rocker, Marcus King, as of yet, but "The Well" might just be his best one yet! If the song sounds a bit like The Black Keys' "Howlin' For You", it's because the Keys' Dan Auerbach produced it! It also seems to have the most blues-y lyrics of King's output so far ("Papa was a-preachin' 'bout the fires of Hell/If you want a drink of water, got to go to the well"), with its ever so blues-y struggle between the sacred and the profane. Specifically, this song might be about wanting to disprove the myth how rock music is the "devil's music", with Marcus claiming that the "cornerstone church tried to sell (his) soul", but that "the good Lord gave him rock and roll". Well, if classic rock groups like Argent or Kiss are correct, God DID give rock and roll to us!

New songs for October 9th 2019

here they are:


"Black Cadillac" by Mondo Cozmo: On this song, Joshua Keith Ostrander manages to give The Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting For the Man" a U2 styled makeover. Oh, take that strange look out of your eyes! Haha. Bono and the boys were also influenced by Lou Reed and his quintet of alt-rock forefathers even though it might not seem that apparent at first, so the combination of these sounds might not be as outlandish as it sounds. Josh is not taking on the subject of drugs like Lou did, but he is taking on the equally hairy topic of politics in "Black Cadillac". The lyrics of the song are somewhat cryptic, except when Joshua spells out Brett Kavanaugh's last name midway through the song, attacking him for his insincerity during the Supreme Court hearings.


"Good Luck" by Broken Bells: Our next entry for the week also attacks politics, opening with the lyrics, "The face of evil's on the news tonight". As James Mercer continues to deliver his lyrics in his latest song, the trip-hop influenced "Good Luck", he questions whether the "good times" ever existed in the first place or if we're just looking at our past through rose colored glasses, so to speak. Mercer tends to lean towards the latter answer here. The darkness is all around us, sure, but Mercer acknowledges this is nothing new, ending the song by wishing his listeners "good luck" in coping with a world that doesn't seem to favor our species.


"Wars" by Of Monsters and Men: Given the chilling political atmosphere the lyrics of the previous two entries brought us, you might think that "Wars", from its title alone, would continue this theme. However, anyone tired of hearing about politics can take a breather for our last song of the week! The title of the song actually refers to a relationship gone wrong. In this song, OMAM's male vocalist takes the lead, as opposed to their female vocalist who took on "Alligator" from earlier this year. OMAM have also drifted even further away from their folk-rock sound than they did with "Alligator". That song at least contained a vague hint of electric guitar, whereas "Wars" seems to lack guitar altogether. I'm a little worried for the future of Of Monsters and Men in this aspect, as they had a rich, harmony-laden folk-rock sound for their first two albums that I fell in love with the moment I first heard it! Perhaps this is not entirely a bad thing, though.

Funk-tober!!

I noticed all three entries this week were a blend of funk and rock, hence the silly name I gave this week's blog entry. Here are the songs:


"Colors" by Black Pumas: Neo-soul group, Black Pumas, made the adult alt charts not once, but twice, both times with the funky yet haunting, "Black Moon Rising". Their second song (and third entry?) on the adult alt charts is "Colors", one of the few songs I know that could be called "acoustic funk". The song starts out with a vaguely acoustic strum, only for a soulful rhythm to be gradually added into the song as it progresses. What the song is about could be up for debate. Some of the lyrics hint at the colors of nature, but during the chorus when he talks about "all my favorite colors, my sisters and my brothers", it could be symbolic of the idea of racial harmony, an idea that is desperately needed in today's increasingly divided world.


"Hey Rose" by Son Little: Son Little's slinky, catchy mix of blues and funk continues in his latest song, "Hey Rose". The song is unique in Little's catalog for its use of handclaps. The earthy yet gutsy vibes he got across in his debut single, "The River", back in 2014, are shown prominently on "Hey Rose". The song seems to be about wanting to fall in love with someone by inviting them to a concert, as evidenced by the "big brass band" that Son Little keeps telling the titular Rose about, despite there being no brass instruments on the song itself.


"Over You" by Seratones: The combo of funk and rock music seems to be pretty trendy this week since it makes up the entirety of this week's blog! Our last entry for the week comes from Seratones, the sassy soul sensations from Shreveport who brought us "Gotta Get to Know Ya" in spring of this year. "Over You" is considerably less loud than "Gotta..." but it's just as jagged and unapologetic in its lyrics. "We made love like pianos falling down the stairs", AJ Haynes viciously sings during one part of the song. If that's not proof she's "over" the subject of her song, I dunno what is!

New songs for September 25th 2019

here they are:


"Everyone Hides" by Wilco: Did you think that Imogen Heap was the only indie musician who enjoyed playing "hide and seek"?! Well, think again! Wilco enjoy it just as much, and not in the romantic way that Imogen did in her song. The video for "Everyone Hides" is quite literally a fun, harmless game of hide and seek between the band members! It can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Gbbd6pVMg Jeff Tweedy and co are quite the clever punsters in this song and video! The title of the song itself, when used in combination with the video, could be taken as one, using the word "hide" in the sense of both concealing one's inner emotions in the song and literally finding a place to hide in the video. Visual puns that reference Wilco albums like "Being There" (depicted here as a movie starring Peter Sellers) and "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (the tower on the album cover is one place they hide) can be found throughout the video. Happy hunting!


"Missing Home" by Flora Cash: The third song so far to become a hit in the catalog of Swedish indie-folk duo, Flora Cash, "Missing Home" recalls many of the elements that made their first and biggest hit (so far), "You're Somebody Else", so successful on alt and adult alt radio stations. For one, acoustic guitar makes a return to Flora Cash's music (guitar was largely absent on "They Own This Town"). Flora Cash also turn back from the bitter vibes of "They Own This Town" and go back to bittersweet, which suits them better, on "Missing Home". The title alone indicates a sense of yearning, and the moody yet longing vibe of the song and its lovelorn lyrics confirm this. Midway through, the song uses the old adage that "home is where the heart is", but it doesn't feel corny or forced here. Instead, it feels like it plucks at the ol' heartstrings. Here's hoping this song will become one of the smash hits for the final season of both 2019 and the 2010's!


"The Game" by Milky Chance: Often written off as a "one-hit wonder" for the sensually funky alt-folk song, "Stolen Dance", Milky Chance have had a few more songs that their fanbase knows them for, most notably "Flashed Junk Mind" and "Cocoon". Joining the ranks of those songs is the German indie-folk trio's latest tune, "The Game". Once again mixing folk guitars with world music rhythms, "The Game", which has a reggae rhythm that recalls Magic!, another mid 2010's one-hit wonder for their song, "Rude". The lyrics are basically about a relationship gone wrong, where lead singer Clemens Rehbein claims that he doesn't care about what rumors have been spread about him and that he just wants to learn "the rules of the game". The game, of course, is the game of love. I hate to burst anyone's bubble here, but no, it is not about that silly meme that claims, "You just lost the game"!


"The Runner" by Foals: Foals are one of the few indie/alt bands left that can shift between typical indie-pop and the alt-rock music in days of yore that had more guitars. They boasted some mighty fine guitar playing skills on their 2015 hit, "Mountain At My Gates". On their latest song, "The Runner", their guitar skills are once again evident! Where their song "Exits" from earlier this year seemed to evoke feelings of despair and hopelessness, "The Runner" seems to be all about determination! Nothing can get in the way of Foals' success after such a tumultuous, unpredictable decade. Hopefully they'll soldier on into the next one unscathed!

New songs for September 11th 2019

here they are:


"Better Than I Used To" by Illiterate Light: You know a song's gonna be kinda quirky when its opening lyrics are, "In my mind there's only three things: rubber band ball bouncing around". Huh?! Sounds like something badly translated from another language! The song itself is charmingly odd as well with its post-psychedelic influences, bringing to mind other bands who have revived psychedelia for the 21st century, such as Dr. Dog and My Morning Jacket. I actually mistook this for a Dr. Dog song when I first heard it on KCSN, a station that has introduced me to many other wonderful songs and bands that resides in SoCal like I do. "Every time that I think of you, I feel better than I used to", the lead singer states during the chorus. I echo that sentiment when I listen to songs like this one!


"Will We Talk?" by Sam Fender: Sam's late spring/early summer adult alt radio hit, "Hypersonic Missiles", sounded like Springsteen circa 1975 being covered by Ryan Adams. A great combo of sounds if ever there was one! Sam's second adult alt radio hit, "Will We Talk?", sounds a bit more modern, evoking the sounds of groups like The Strokes and The Killers, albeit with that distinctly Springsteen-ian chime and string section in the background. The Strokes and The Killers were both heavily influenced by music of the post-punk and new wave eras, so it's only fitting that "Will We Talk?" opens with the lyrics, "Blue Monday blaring through the speakers", referencing "Blue Monday" by New Order, one of the best known groups of the post-punk and new wave eras. Here, the lyrics also seem like early Springsteen, save for an F-bomb that gets dropped midway through the song, if The Boss had kept his original jazzier and grittier sound into the 1980's, weaving a tale of bittersweet urban romance. Bruce was thought to be the new Bob Dylan back in the day. I'd say that Sam is the new Bruce!

New songs for August 28th, 2019

here they are:


"Even Though It Hurts" by Devon Gilfillian: Neo-soul sensation, Devon Gilfillian, returns just in time for the fall season with the sensitive R & B ballad, "Even Though It Hurts". With his debut song, "Get Out And Get It", Devon was the perfect ray of sunshine for neo-soul fans everywhere during the spring and summer. As the year becomes quieter and more settled down, though, "Even Though It Hurts" will be the perfect song to provide warmth to cold hearts as Devon croons of heartbreak over slow, smooth, slick R & B grooves!


"Might Be Right" by White Reaper: Don't fear the reaper! The White Reaper, that is. In spite of the band's scary sounding name, they're really more of danceable post-punk influenced band. The guitar solos in their song, "Might Be Right", are similar to more mainstream 1970's rock groups like Boston and Queen, even though the rest of it doesn't sound like that. The lyrics seem a little repetitive in some parts, but the song itself is both catchy and quirky enough to make you forget about that!


"Sing Along" by Sturgill Simpson: If ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" got a 2010's techno-pop makeover (with a bit of country music influence as well), it would probably sound like Sturgill Simpson's "Sing Along". Sturgill seems to be going in ZZ Top's direction, actually, going from Southern rock to more new wave-y stuff without losing his roots-y appeal in the process. There is a reason the song sounds so futuristic, actually. It's because it is part of an album that also serves as the soundtrack to the noir-ish, sci-fi anime series, "Sound and Fury", which is exclusive to Netflix. Why Sturgill Simpson is doing an album that ties with an anime series is anyone's guess. I suppose this is the year where anything can happen, though!

New songs for August 21st 2019

here they are:


"Catfish Kate" by Pixies: The legendary alternative rock band returns just in time for the end of the decade! In comparison to the spiky sound of their last "comeback" song, "Classic Masher", "Catfish Kate" sounds almost like an R.E.M. song, similar to The Pixies' now classic, "Here Comes Your Man". Frank "Black Francis" Black takes the lead vocals on this song and weaves a tale about someone he once knew whose nickname was "Catfish Kate". What is this tale about?! I'm scratching my head trying to figure THAT one out, but most Pixies songs tend to be rather obscure in meaning upon first listen. It's only upon listening to a Pixies song enough times that one can decipher its true significance, but such is part of the appeal of a band that was famously one of Kurt Cobain's favorites.


"Knock Me Off My Feet" by Soak: As an Irish-American myself, I think there are many talented Irish musicians. U2, of course, but there are many more: The Cranberries, Sinead O'Connor, The Boomtown Rats, Van Morrison, Damien Rice, and so much more. One of the latest performers to join their ranks is Bridie Monds-Watson, better known as "Soak". Her song, "Knock Me Off My Feet", has a sound that's evocative of groups like The Cure, Echo and The Bunnymen, and Joy Division. Much like the bands she is emulating, Soak's "Knock Me Off My Feet" has rather dark subject matter. Here it concerns how harshly people can treat themselves, although it also suggests the opposite idea of how well people can treat themselves.


"Lebanon" by J.S. Ondara: Thanks to L.A.'s trailblazing radio station, KCSN, I have heard J.S. Ondara's latest offering, "Lebanon". The song has an interesting title for a musician who was born in an African country and raised in the United States, since Lebanon itself is a Middle Eastern country. The song is not about geographical location, though, but is instead about providing friendship and loyalty through thick and thin. Through a sweet folk-rock sound that brings to mind what Tracy Chapman might sound like with a catchier beat, Ondara tells a story of his desire for friendship through troubled times. "In the water, in the fire, I'll go wherever you go", Ondara sings during the song's chorus. Powerful stuff!


"Life In the City" by The Lumineers: It's not every day you get a song with a waltz rhythm and a folk-rock sound, but The Lumineers did it before with "Submarines", and they're doing it again with their latest song, "Life In the City". Though the song itself might sound somewhat uplifting, do not be fooled. "Life In the City" does not celebrate the urban lifestyle, but instead criticizes it. Wesley Schultz croons sorrowfully about how city life has left him feeling empty inside, even stating in the chorus that it will "never be pretty". Through troubled times, though, come great songs, and this is one of them!


"So Caught Up" by The Teskey Brothers: Australian quartet, The Teskey Brothers, offer us music that does not sound like it came from down under at all. For that matter, it doesn't sound current either. Instead, it sounds like a 1960's soul song that came from someone like Sam & Dave or Otis Redding. Lyrically, it's a love song without a very deep meaning to it, but the way the song is delivered is so energetic that the listener can't help but get hooked into it!


"The Chain" by The Highwomen: An all-woman, country-rock supergroup, composed of Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires, most of whom have had adult alt radio hits as solo musicians, take on a song from one of the most legendary women (and men) in rock and roll history! If you saw the title, "The Chain", and thought of a Fleetwood Mac song from the mid 1970's, you'd be correct! This is the song the quartet of women are taking on. How does it fare in comparison to the original? An A for effort on their part, but it almost sounds TOO similar to the Fleetwood Mac version. The song is in the key of E (major for the verses, minor for the chorus) like the original, and it also has the same rhythm and remarkably similar instrumentation, right down to the bass riff and guitar solo that marks the end of the song, nearly note for note! The only way to truly differentiate the two versions is by vocals (and by the "jam band" styled section towards the end of the song). Still, they picked a great song to cover!


"2all" by Catfish and The Bottlemen: Our last entry of the week is another song I first heard on L.A.'s KCSN, just like J.S. Ondara's "Lebanon", which I reviewed earlier in this week's blog. The harmonious vocals and heartfelt message of "2all" marks an interesting contrast to the usual gritty material of Catfish and The Bottlemen's material. I couldn't even believe it WAS Catfish and The Bottlemen when I first heard it. There's a reason this song sounds sweet and mellow in comparison to most of CATB's material, though. Van McCann apparently wanted to do a song dedicated to his audience and how supportive they were to his band and their music. What a great idea! Now that's what I call dedication!

New songs for August 7th 2019

here they are:


"Baptise Me" by Robert Randolph and The Family Band: Not to be confused with "Baptize Me" from the "Book of Mormon" musical, there is something rather spiritual about the latest song from blues-rocker, Robert Randolph. Unlike BOM's "Baptize Me", "Baptise Me" doesn't contain any sexual metaphors. Instead, it's a sincere plea from Robert Randolph to be made into someone who is more closely anointed with God. This song does exactly what it aims to do. It uplifts the spirits, regardless of one's personal worldview. It has often been said that rock and roll was rooted from the blues. Robert Randolph brings the two genres into holy matrimony here, full stop!


"Can I Go On?" by Sleater-Kinney: This song is probably a bit more pop than what Sleater-Kinney's fans are used to. That is, until Annie Clark (St. Vincent)'s guitar kicks in and gives what seems to be an upbeat, pleasant pop song more of an edge. The lyrics are pure Sleater-Kinney, though, as cutting and gritty as ever. One thing that is noticeably different about the lyrics of "Can I Go On?" is how its target is not a person(s), but a machine. A group of machines, to be more precise, that are closing off the way we used to communicate with one another. Thankfully, music still remains our greatest tool of communication, as illustrated in this song!


"Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile" by The New Pornographers: At 7 words long, this sounds more like the title of a Panic! At the Disco song than it does a New Pornographers song title! Its sound, however, is pure New Pornographers, particularly during the chorus of the song. It hearkens back to the power pop sound most NP's albums have, which was lacking in their previous post-punk/new wave influenced album, "Whiteout Conditions". The lyrics don't seem to mean much of anything, but this seems pretty typical of a band whose other song titles include such oddities as "Sing Me Spanish Techno" and "Brill Bruisers" (not to mention A.C. Newman's solo adult alt radio hit, "Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns"). Like an indie-rock Fleetwood Mac, the male and female vocals of A.C. Newman and Neko Case, respectively, harmonize well with one another on this song and both play important roles in it. Neko shines particularly brightly during the song's chorus.


"Hold You Down" by X Ambassadors: X Ambassadors debut album from 2015 was marked by the energetic, catchy, "Renegades" being followed by the more bittersweet "Unsteady". It seems the band has taken a similar course for the first two singles they've released for 2019. X Ambassadors had a surprisingly rocking, super catchy smash hit with "Boom" in spring of this year, and now they've decided to mellow out a bit and show their more sensitive side with "Hold You Down". While it doesn't tug at the heartstrings near as heavily as "Unsteady" did, "Hold You Down" is still a sweet, romantic tune with a chorus that reassures the lead singer's love interest that "when there's no one left to hold (her)" he will still "hold (her) down". A nice song to listen to on a romantic beach trip once the sun starts to set!


"Peach Fuzz" by Caamp: The band's weird name (probably pronounced like "camp") is as unique as its sound. Well, maybe not THAT unique, but it's certainly a neat combo of sounds! It wouldn't be out of place to describe their debut song, "Peach Fuzz", as being like The Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" mixed with Ray LaMontagne's "Supernova". Caamp's lead singer even seems to have Ray LaMontagne's husky vocals! "Peach Fuzz" is a love song, though a bit of an odd one, in which the lead singer describes himself as a "peach fuzz boy". Uhhh...what?!


"Summer Girl" by Haim: Interesting that both this song and the previous one have brought about Lou Reed comparisons. This one bears resemblance to Lou's biggest chart hit, "Walk On the Wild Side". It contains a similar bass line and a similar sax riff as well. After hearing the sunny, Fleetwood Mac-ish pop/rock of "The Wire" and the more plaintive indie-folk-pop of "Want You Back", it's a welcome change of pace to hear the all-sister trio, Haim, take on something more jazzy and soulful. Between the upbeat vibes of the song and a video that ends with the three girls revealing how they look in bathing suit tops (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjuA_o6Jzyo), you would think this song would be celebratory, when in fact it really isn't. "I'm your summer girl" is not just a mere declaration of romance from lead singer Danielle Haim, but words of reassurance that she would tell her producer, to whom she was and is romantically linked, during a time when he was suffering from cancer. This is proof of just how powerful music can be!



"Supply And Demand" by Wilder Woods: I was never a fan of William Stanley "Bear" Rinehart's band, Needtobreathe, who combined the sweeter yet blander side of '00s folk-pop with Christian rock lyrical themes. However, Bear has redeemed himself with his side project, Wilder Woods, and their surprisingly soulful song, "Supply And Demand". The song sounds so much like an early '70s soul song that I would have never guessed that a white South Carolinian man from a post-millennial band did this song! Even the lyrics of this song, revolving around passionate and soul-baring love making, seem like they wouldn't be out of place in a band like The Delfonics, The Stylistics, or The Chi-Lites. This is a great song to get your groove on with!

New songs for July 24th 2019

here they are:


"Love Is Everywhere (Beware)" by Wilco: So it's official. Now both the end of the 2000's AND the end of the 2010's have a Wilco song (and album to go along with it). Wilco's eclectic musical pallet, which is at once both sweet and sardonic, has made them one of the most appealing and enduring bands of the indie scene. A major difference between the end of the '00s and the end of the 2010's is how much political turmoil we have sadly had to face during the latter (perhaps even more so when it comes to how much indie and folk musicians have had to endure as a result). "Love Is Everywhere (Beware)" is a song of reassurance that Jeff Tweedy and co have offered us during these troubled times. Jeff is not a complete optimist, though, in spite of what he suggests in both the title and the sound of this song. If you're wondering just what to make of this song, perhaps the best thing to do is just to get swept up in its mellow vibes and focus more on the message of the song's title than that of the song itself.


"Stay High" by Brittany Howard: Well, sadly, "History Repeats" didn't do as well as I thought it would on adult alt radio, but Alabama Shakes' lead singer has decided to release a second single about three weeks later with "Stay High". The song is unusual for a Brittany Howard song in that it focuses on acoustic guitar more than it does on electric. Given Brittany's rock and roll reputation, the phrase "stay high" might refer to drugs on the surface, but the lyrics are actually quite sweet otherwise, much like the song itself. The song is hardly about drugs (from what I can tell), the sex aspects are replaced by pure love, and it's not really a rock and roll song either so much as it is folk-rock. The song is basically an expression of pure love, whichever way you choose to look at it.

New songs for July 17th 2019

here they are:


"Fighter" by Joseph: The somewhat ironically named all-girl trio, Joseph, graced adult alt radio in 2016 and 2017 with their harmonious, bittersweet brand of indie-folk with songs like "White Flag" and "S.O.S. (Overboard)". The success must have paid off well for the three of them because summer 2019 marks their return to adult alt radio with "Fighter". The song is a bit of a departure from the acoustic guitar driven sound of their previous songs, as it doesn't seem to feature guitar much at all. However, the mood of "Fighter" is pure Joseph. Like their biggest hit to date, "White Flag", "Fighter" is all about never giving up. It touches on a more personal level than "White Flag" did, though. "Fighter" is actually a song that almost didn't even come into existence due to personal strife within the band, but Natalie, Allison, and Megan took that tension, made it into a song, and as a result, have landed the biggest new adult alt radio hit of the week! Way to go, girls!


"Heat of the Summer" by Young the Giant: In the mood for a summer song to make a splash on alt and adult alt radio?! Then wait no more! Young the Giant might just have what you're looking for with "Heat of the Summer". The song is actually a clever mix of the traditional fun summer song and the more contemporary type of "summer boredom" song. Lead singer, Sameer Gadhia, expresses his boredom with summer during the verses, which are accompanied by sparse bass sounds, and the richer, guitar laden sounds of the chorus complement its more joyful lyrics quite nicely.


"Rylan" by The National: Who is Rylan? Furthermore, what kind of a NAME is Rylan?! I've heard of (and met) people named Ryan, but adding an "L" into the middle of their names just seems odd. Anyway, as to the question of who Rylan is, it's a bit of a mystery. From the context of the song, he seems to be a neglected, sad child who rarely speaks. Beneath Rylan's quiet lies a troubled boy, as Matt Berninger switches between saying that he "reminds him of everyone" during the first part of the song, to saying that "there's a little bit of hell in everyone" towards the end of it. "Everyone", to Matt Berninger, is flawed in some way. Rylan, therefore, reminds Matt of just how imperfect the human race truly is. The National have often talked about alienation in their music, but rarely at a level that cuts as deep as this one does.


"See You Through My Eyes" by The Head and The Heart: Although The Head and The Heart's previous hit, "Missed Connection", was a significant departure from the folk-rock sound they started out with, it ended up becoming one of the biggest hits of the first half of 2019. We have now arrived at the second half of the year, and The Head and The Heart's move from folk-rock to soft alt-pop still hasn't waned with their latest song, "See You Through My Eyes", which looks poised to become one of the year's biggest hits as well. Musically, it's pretty much the major key version of "Missed Connection". Lyrically, it touches on more positive themes as well, focusing primarily on learning to love yourself.


"Strangers" by City and Colour: If you first found out about City and Colour through their 2009 folk-rock song, "Sleeping Sickness", then you might be in for a surprise to learn that lead singer Dallas Green's previous band was a hard-edged emo band called Alexisonfire. C & C's latest song, "Strangers", seems to be an attempt at combining the sweetness and harmonies of City and Colour with the chord progressions and energy of Alexisonfire. The song has a sound that is both sweet and moody, probably the moodiest that C & C have recorded so far. Its title, "Strangers", gives it an air of mystery to match its moodiness. As for the lyrics ("we are strangers in this land with so much left to discover"), they almost make the song seem vulnerable. Any way you look at it, this song is packed full of emotion!


"Wasted Youth" by Jenny Lewis: According to the YouTube comments on this song, I'm not the only one who thought of Carole King when I first heard this song on my local radio station, KCSN, a few weeks ago. Jenny has emulated quite a few of the women who have helped to shape rock and alternative music, from Joni Mitchell to Patti Smith, but I have not heard her try to take on Carole's style yet. Carole has an almost nostalgic, childlike quality to her music, something that Jenny offers somewhat on the surface, often interspersed with world weary, sarcastic lyrics underneath. There is no sarcasm in "Wasted Youth", though. If anything, the song offers up bittersweet truths that lament her own drug addictions and deaths that have occurred in her family. The song is basically "It's Too Late" for millennials. Something inside has indeed died within Jenny, and she makes no attempts to hide or fake it either!

New songs for July 10th, 2019

here they are:


"Complainer" by Cold War Kids: Most of what passes for "rock" these days seems to come in either a folk-y flavor or a funky one. Cold War Kids' "Complainer" definitely falls into the latter category. Contrary to its title, "Complainer" is not about complaints. It's actually about going against those who complain about things. The central line of the song is probably the first words of its chorus: "You say you want to change the world, but do you really believe in magic?" This line is probably about how people who say they want to "change the world" don't usually do anything aside from complaining about how bad the world is. Nathan Willett isn't having any of that, and that's basically how he was able to turn a song with a negative title into a more positive song overall.


"History Repeats" by Brittany Howard (from Alabama Shakes): The only other song for this week is also funk influenced. Instead of going for the pop-funk sound of Michael Jackson like Cold War Kids opted for in the previous entry, Alabama Shakes' lead singer goes more for the more eccentric, subversive funk of the '80s other leading soul man, Prince. Another thing this song shares in common with Prince is how clever it is lyrically. The name of the song is "History Repeats", and...well...that's exactly what it does during the second half of the song (in a song that's only around 3 minutes to begin with)!! It repeats the same words over and over at this point, but I feel like Brittany Howard meant to do this. She's TRYING to mess with our heads when she says this line! She states in the beginning of the song that she doesn't want to go back to where she was again, yet that's exactly what she does. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure I don't repeat myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make sure I don't repeat myself. (See what I did there?!)

New songs for June 26th 2019

here they are:

“No Bullets Spent” by Spoon: A best of collection from Spoon?! Seems kinda weird for a band who never had a single major chart hit, but they’ve become well loved by listeners of adult alternative radio stations, and 10 of the 12 songs on their "best of" collection that show up before their latest song, “No Bullets Spent”, does, have all become significant adult alt radio hits to a degree. So how does “No Bullets Spent” hold up in comparison to the other 12 songs on Spoon’s upcoming best of collection? Somewhere in the middle, I’d say. While it doesn’t have quite the appeal of enduring Spoon “classics” (if they can be called that yet) like “The Way We Get By” and “The Underdog”, “No Bullets Spent” still has a charm all its own. The song sounds more like the post-punk and new wave sound that Britt Daniel and co have cultivated during the 2010’s than it does like the more quirky and whimsical power pop and folk-rock they started out with in the 2000’s. Lyrically, Spoon continue their streak as a modern-day Steely Dan, as they have been for a long time, spouting wry, cynical political observations over catchy beats and sweet melodies.


“Oh No” by The Revivalists: It’s not unusual to hear a song by The Revivalists that’s R & B influenced. However, up until this point, they’ve been more about the R (rhythm) than the B (blues). “Oh No” has sort of a “Black Keys lite” sound, a bit unusual for the New Orleans octet. It also has a thicker, heavier, and longer guitar solo than the other Revivalists songs I’ve come to know so far. The song also seems to be a distant cousin of The Heavy’s “What Makes A Good Man?” earning it yet another comparison to an R & B influenced tune that’s more blues than rhythm.


“Social Cues” by Cage the Elephant: Ah yes, social cues. Also known as, “The things I have trouble understanding sometimes from other people.” Haha. As if by coincidence, the song’s sound seems to take influence from David Bowie, a musical icon who probably misunderstood numerous social cues as well. The phrase “social cues” is mentioned nowhere in the song, leaving the listener puzzled as to why the song is called what it is in the first place. Much of the song seems to revel in making fun of the concept of fame, with such clever and somewhat tongue-in-cheek lines as, “I think it’s strange when people say, ‘You’re the next best thing. You’ll never fade’”, and “People always say, ‘Man, at least you’re on the radio.”

New songs for June 19th 2019

here they are:


"High Steppin'" by The Avett Brothers: If you thought the Avetts departed from their folk/country-rock roots with the slightly more straight ahead rock of "Ain't No Man" and then went back to their original sound afterwards, you'd be wrong! "High Steppin'" is the least Avetts-y Avett Brothers song so far! It is the first song in which Seth and Scott employ (gasp!) a synthesizer. This element by itself seems like it would alienate quite a few members of their original fanbase, but surprisingly, Avett Brothers fans actually seem to like this song. For one thing, the video for the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwebrzEldA0) features one of the brothers in a skeleton outfit. No one quite knows the reason for this, but it is entertaining, to say the least! For another, you can still hear a bluegrass-y fiddle in the background in spite of the overall "alternative" sound this song boasts.


"I Need A Teacher" by Hiss Golden Messenger: This song marks yet another instance of a bluegrass influenced folk-rock group opting for a more "alternative" sound. However, there was a very good reason that Hiss Golden Messenger chose to make their latest song a more moody one. "I Need A Teacher" is a political protest song inspired by teachers from North Carolina who railed against the idea of budget cuts to public education a year ago. After hearing about this, HGM thought it was only right to make a song dedicated to all the hard working teachers who have made noble sacrifices for their students and their unions. You'll never look at the phrase "Schoolhouse Rock" the same way again!


"Superbike" by Jay Som: It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's (fanfare) Superbike!! Wait!! What's a superbike?! No one really knows the answer to that question, but what we do know is that Melina Mae Duterte, better known as Jay Som, is one cool chick! She fuses together the disparate musical worlds of the avant-garde psych-pop of groups like My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins with the bubblegum-y 2010's teen pop of Katy Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen (of "Call Me Maybe" fame). These are such opposite end elements that no one would think a song like this could even exist, especially in the mass-produced, autotune era of the 2010's, yet here it is! It's like if The Velvet Underground tried covering a song like "Yummy Yummy Yummy" or "Sugar Sugar". Unthinkable, yet somehow totally possible. "Superbike", much like Superman, attains to soar to new heights that no one has ever witnessed before!

New songs for June 12th, 2019

here they are:


"Hold Your Nerve" by Boy and Bear: It seems as though with "Hold Your Nerve", Boy and Bear have finally settled on a sound that's just right for them. It is not the folk-rock from early on in their career, but nor is it the more straight ahead rock oriented sound they had three years ago. "Hold Your Nerve" sounds a bit like Fleet Foxes mixed with The Cure. Its synth laden atmosphere provides an ethereal backdrop for both acoustic and electric guitars melding with lead singer Dave Hosking's harmonic vocals. "Hold Your Nerve" is actually a rather nerve wracking story, lyrically speaking. Ever since Dave's career with Boy and Bear started almost a decade ago, he had known something was wrong with him. Initially, people thought it was something akin to depression and anxiety, but the illness gradually became more physical than it was mental or emotional, until eventually, his doctors found out he had a bacterial infection affecting nervous system. Perhaps that's what he's referring to when he says "hold your nerve" in this song!


"Kill In the Cure" by Jocelyn and Chris Arndt: Jocelyn and Chris Arndt's contemporary take on blues-rock gets a slow, churning spin on their latest song, "Kill In the Cure". The guitars and bass chug along slowly by themselves until the drums kick in midway through the song, giving it a mysterious, "edgy" sound. Now, what exactly does Jocelyn mean when she says she's looking for the "kill in the cure"? To be honest, I have no idea. However, I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with British alternative rock group, The Cure!

New songs for June 5th 2019

here they are:


"Calm Down" by Pete Yorn: Pete Yorn released an album in 2009 that yielded three adult alt radio hits with "Don't Wanna Cry", "Last Summer", and "Paradise Cove". I would not have anticipated that exactly one decade later he'd still be doin' stuff in the music biz. Yorn's career has gone on for almost 20 years now, and his latest song, "Calm Down" seems to combine the best of the moody, introspective folk-rock he went for in the 2000's with the more indie-pop direction he seemed to take in the 2010's. The keyboards in "Calm Down" give it a pop-y aspect, but the melancholy folk-rock guitars remind me of why I fell in love with Pete Yorn's music way back in 2001 when he debuted! I loved the bittersweet flavor of his breakthrough song, "Strange Condition", and it looks like with "Calm Down", Pete has finally found his way back to doing what he was so great at doing in the first place. Welcome back, Pete!


"Chevrolet Van" by The Nude Party: This song is not as glam-rock as their debut single, "Feels Alright", but it still sounds retro. This time, The Nude Party are going for a Bob Dylan sound, circa the mid '60s when Dylan "went electric". Much like Dylan, the lyrics to "Chevrolet Van" seem oblique yet somewhat caustic as well. Hard to believe this is the same band who did "Feels Alright", one of the hardest rocking songs of 2019 to hit the adult alt airwaves. "Chevrolet Van" is a much more mellow song, but still one that feels like it might still have some edge in terms of its lyrical content.


"Gotta Get to Know Ya" by Seratones: For those who like a bit of sass in their rock and soul songs, "Gotta Get to Know Ya" might just be for you! The song seems a bit like what The Black Keys might be like if their lead singer was a black female, as opposed to a white male. That singer's name is AJ Haynes, and boy, does she deliver in this track! You know AJ means business when she says, "I know what I'm doin', baby, so don't f**k with me!" Wowzer! I guess I won't mess around with her! But still, she makes some mighty fine music that will keep both rock and roll and R & B chugging on into the next decade!


"Help Me Stranger" by The Raconteurs: Earlier this year, The Raconteurs pulled off a rare feat of getting two hit singles to hit the adult alt airwaves within a single day! A little less than half a year later, The Rac's are back with "Help Me Stranger". The song's vibe is much like their previous songs, with a blues-rock sound that's both roots-y and punchy, and equally blues-y lyrics like, "Help me, stranger. Brother can you spare the time?" being repeated many times during the song. "These 16 strings we're strumming will back up every line" might just be the best line in the song for a few reasons. For one, does this mean that Jack White and Brendan Benson are each playing guitars with EIGHT strings instead of six?! If so, I wanna see those! Second off, note the alliteration of "sixteen", "strings", and "strumming". Last but not least, the line does exactly what the band members are doing at that very moment. The action of the lyrics describe guitar playing accompanying the lyrics, and...well...that's exactly what they're doing!


"Hurry On Home" by Sleater-Kinney: The piercing electric guitar attack of indie darlings, Sleater-Kinney, is normally a lot more vicious and gritty than it is on their latest song, "Hurry On Home". However, rest assured, the song still has an edge of its own that will probably please their longtime fanbase. Instead of taking from punk rock like The Sex Pistols and Patti Smith, "Hurry On Home" takes more from post-punk like Siouxsie and The Banshees and Joy Division. Joy Division particularly comes to mind here with "Hurry On Home"'s combination of techno beats and angry, brooding guitars that never spiral out of control yet still seem on edge. Lead singer Corin Tucker's voice quakes with urgency as she sings the words of the song's title, as though she's expecting someone to clean up her emotional mess. One also senses both jealousy and spite when she claims she's "unlovable" and "unf**kable" midway through the song. (That's the second time I've used a word that I don't normally use in real life on this blog this week. How weird! Well, for me, that is...)


"Live Wire" by Sheryl Crow (featuring Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples): I get the sense that Sheryl has tired from the folk-pop/rock image that songs like "Soak Up the Sun" and just about every other song she did during the first 10 years of the millennium gave her. Within the past three or so years she's tried to escape that by getting back to her blues-rock roots with Gary Clark Jr., as well as her "alternative" roots with St. Vincent. "Live Wire" is yet another attempt, and quite a successful one, at that, for Sheryl to get in touch with her blues-rock roots, enlisting the help of legendary blues-y women who inspired her like Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples. The song has a very Bonnie Raitt-ish vibe to it, and since she is one of the three people featured on the track, it's not hard to see why. In addition to a theme of femininity, a theme of motherhood might also be present on "Live Wire". Sheryl has been greatly inspired by Bonnie Raitt, and Bonnie has been greatly inspired by Mavis, thus uniting three generations of blues and country inspired rock together. Sheryl has been a mother for quite some time now, so this might just be her way of passing down the wonderful gift of music to her own children!


"Losing Battles" by Josh Ritter: Much like "Old Black Magic" from earlier this year, "Losing Battles" is yet another Josh Ritter song that moves away from his folk-rock roots and goes more into scorching Southern rock territory. The lyrics to this one evoke Southern rock and roots-rock here as well. In "Losing Battles", Josh mentions Colorado and Tennessee. A lot of "road trip" rock songs, such as The Grateful Dead's "Truckin'", use names of states and cities to give their songs a distinctly roots-y feel, and it looks like that's what Josh is going for here on "Losing Battles". I mean, don't lyrics like, "Drifted down to Tennessee/Lost my girl to a heart of silver" sound like they wouldn't be too out of place in a song by a group like The Allman Brothers or The Black Crowes?! Well I'd say they do!


"When We Drive" by Death Cab for Cutie: Death Cab's latest album seems to be a trip back in time across alternative rock history. Their previous single, "Northern Lights", evoked both The Smiths and R.E.M. Death Cab's latest song, "When We Drive", seems somewhat inspired, musically, by David Bowie's "Heroes", with its spacey, pulsating guitar and synth combo droning dreamily in D major. This seems like the perfect song to listen to when you just want to stare out into space at the stars with your loved one, imagining you and that special someone drifting into outer space and uniting in the cosmos!

New songs for May 22nd 2019

here they are:


"Breaking Down the Door" by Santana: The trademark Santana guitar is still featured on this song, but "Breaking Down the Door" is a song that digs more into Santana's Hispanic musical roots than it is a rock song. If not for Carlos' distinctive guitar sound, this song could be mistaken for something by a more roots-y group like Los Lobos. Perhaps not what you'd expect from Mexico's answer to Jimi Hendrix, but still quite a breath of fresh air in comparison to the glut of autotune pop and hip-hop dominating the airwaves today. It doesn't try to sound like a star studded pop song the way "Smooth" did either. Instead, it's just earthy, roots-y music with a slight tinge of that spicy salsa flavor.


"Doin' Time" by Lana Del Rey: Of all the bands that comprised the '90s ska revival movement, the biggest was probably Sublime, whose best known hits cheekily combined sunny melodies with dark subject matter. "Doin' Time" was one such song, copping a tropical summertime sound (and even sampling from George Gershwin's "Summertime") while singing about a promiscuous and somewhat violent woman that lead singer Bradley Nowell was involved with. Sublime have since become revered among stoners, alternative rock fans, and the rock and roll world in general. Lana Del Rey has yet to reach that level of respect, but she's trying. It's a bit strange hearing her cover a song that kind of wasn't meant to BE covered, what with its self-referential lyrics mentioning Bradley Nowell, Ras MG (the song's guest DJ), and Brad's dog, Louie, who figures into many of Sublime's songs (he's mentioned twice in "What I Got", arguably their greatest hit). However, Lana appears to be doing so because of how her and Bradley both share a view of California as being a much more seedy place than it appears to be on the outside. Listen, guys, I'm Californian myself! Do I agree with this opinion of California having a "seedy underbelly"? Yeah, I kinda do, actually, but more from what I've heard about it than what I've seen.


"Go" by The Black Keys: "Go" is exactly what The Black Keys do on their latest song! They go! And how!! The Keys give it their all here as one of America's last hopes for a rock and roll band for today's youth. With a chord progression and rhythm slightly similar to "What I Like About You", "Go" proves that Dan and Patrick have still got it after almost a decade in the limelight and over that amount of time in the music biz altogether!


"You And I" by Barns Courtney: Barns Courtney is a musician whose first hit was his best! His song, "Fire", scorched up the alt and adult alt charts like few other songs did in 2016. He's had other hits since, but few that compare to that song. "You And I" might just be his most lackluster effort yet. The execution of the song sounds like the folk-rock and dance-pop combination Imagine Dragons have been known for using, and it also uses the same three chords in succession as two of the 2010's biggest hits: Vance Joy's "Riptide" and Of Monsters & Men's "Little Talks". I like this song, but sadly it does seem to be proof of originality in music becoming rarer and rarer these days.

New songs for May 15th 2019

here they are:


"Bad Case" by Lukas Nelson: Can you believe Lukas' dad, Willie, has outlasted Tom Petty?! I sure can't! Yet here is Lukas doing a song that sounds strikingly similar to Tom Petty circa the late '80s when Petty was more active as a Wilbury than he was as a Heartbreaker. Both the drums and the choice of C major key recalls The Traveling Wilburys' "Last Night". Willie Nelson has become a fave of both country and rock fans, so it's great to see his son, Lukas, carry on the tradition by blending the two genres into one here.


"Heart" by Rainbow Kitten Surprise: With the funky, fresh vibes of RKS' "Fever Pitch" and "Hide", I couldn't understand why they were being compared to the more folksy side of the indie spectrum. Until now, that is. "Heart" is a sweet folk-pop song whose loving sound lives up to its title. The lyrics take a turn for the worse towards the end with the following two lines: "She's got a gun in her hands and a burden in her heart/You've got love in your hands, you got a hurt in your heart." Makes your heart skip a beat there, doesn't it?!

New songs for May 8th 2019

here they are:


"Alligator" by Of Monsters and Men: Well, THIS song is sure to win the "most random song title of the week" award, right?! There aren't very many songs with the word "alligator" in the title, and perhaps even less with that word being the ONLY word in a song title! As it turns out, this song doesn't have much to do with alligators to begin with. Instead, it appears to be about either an acid trip or a "vision quest" of some sort. The sound of this song might alienate a few people who were initial fans of OMAM. It is not the neo-folk-rock of OMAM's last two albums, but rather a pop sound with a "dark" edge. Make of this song what you will...just know that there are no alligators in it.


"Hypersonic Missiles" by Sam Fender: What an amazing combination of sounds this guy has!! Mixing the arena ready indie rock of acts like Ryan Adams and Kings of Leon, the moody yet echoic chime of The Cranberries, and saxophones reminiscent of Men At Work's biggest hits, Sam Fender has launched his "Hypersonic Missiles" onto our ears, and boy, do they explode! In a good way, of course. Lyrically, it's a "love among the ruins" song, a bit like Goo Goo Dolls' "Name" (another personal fave of mine). Amidst the post-apocalyptic imagery, Sam manages to try to find hope in a hopeless situation. If the world ends in my lifetime, THIS is the song I want to exit with!


"I'll Wait" by The Strumbellas: It's not quite the toe tapping indie-pop of "Salvation" from late last year, but "I'll Wait", the second single from Strumbellas' latest album, is still a happy little slice of indie-folk-pop. Acoustic guitar takes a backseat in this song, though, to a backing string orchestra that swells throughout this song, providing it with a spirited vibe. The lyrics are nothing special, really. Just a simple love song. However, this seems to be what The Strumbellas do best with their music.


"Joy" by Bastille: Bastille have always put the "pop" in "indie-pop", but this song screams pop music! If the title alone wasn't enough to clue you in, "Joy" is pretty much just that. It's a joyful song. The song is their bounciest song yet. The harmonizing vocals towards the end of the song only reinforce the squeaky clean image the song attempts to paint in our minds.

New songs for May 1st 2019

here they are:


"Don't Ever Let 'Em" by Fitz and The Tantrums: Within a decade's time, Fitz and The Tantrums have gone from being Motown wannabes to being...well...just another indie-pop band. The song's message of positivity seems a little bland too, but that's not a bad thing. The song only lasts a little over two and a half minutes, but it seems to suit the song well. One of the few songs from FATT's catalog that doesn't have a fast, catchy beat. Instead, this one has a slow, catchy beat. Still a nice song to mellow out to, though.


"Hello Sunshine" by Bruce Springsteen: The title of The Boss's much anticipated latest song might be happy, but "Hello Sunshine" is actually a very sad song. The title is actually a plea from Springsteen for good times to get him through what is currently a rather depressing time in his life. A few years ago, Bruce opened up and told people he was battling depression and had been for a long time. "Hello Sunshine" is the result of this. A beautifully orchestrated, bittersweet song whose roots are more Johnny Cash than they are "Johnny B Goode", "Hello Sunshine" bares its emotions for all to see during a time when sadness seems to have hit a lot of us pretty hard.

New songs for April 24th 2019

here they are:


"Almost (Sweet Music)" by Hozier: No need for the "almost" here. This is sweet music all the way through! The Irish soul musician, Hozier, lays it down smooth for us here like he usually does in a song about...well...songs! This song is all about how great music can be, with musical references throughout! Duke Ellington and Chet Baker are among the musicians mentioned in this song, and references to song titles by jazz and vocal greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and (one of my personal faves from childhood), The Mills Brothers are sprinkled throughout the lyrics. This is why music exists!


"Forgive Me Friend" by Smith and Thell: The 2010's "rock" scene has really been more of a combination of folk-pop and electronica. A few musicians, such as the recently deceased Avicii, managed to combine both forms into one. Enter Swedish guy-girl duo, Smith and Thell. They seem to be wanting to pick up where Avicii left off with their debut single, "Forgive Me Friend". The song comes off like a dance remix of Of Monsters and Men's "Little Talks". Nothing daring or different here, but it's still a pleasant song to listen to.


"Outta My Head" by Jocelyn and Chris Arndt: Like Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks before them, Jocelyn and Chris Arndt are a blues-rock duo whose young, light-skinned looks belie their true blues roots and sound. Its catchy riff in the key of B builds the foundation of the song as Jocelyn sings about how she can't get a certain someone "out of (her) head". Good luck trying to get this song out of your own head! It sticks to you like glue, and it has a bit more edge than Tedeschi and Trucks, but just as much grit!


"Sheep" by Mt. Joy: Mt. Joy's third adult alt radio hit has an interesting sound to it. It follows in the folk-rock pattern of their other two songs, especially with the beautiful, entrancing ripple effect of the intro. Afterwards, it slides into more of a retro soul flavor while still keeping a mellow folk-rock vibe. The lyrics to "Sheep" are as intriguing as its sound is. Mt. Joy seems to have a thing for combining laid back music with clever, somewhat biting lyrics. With "Silver Lining", we heard what Mt. Joy thinks of college life, and with "Jenny Jenkins", we heard about Mt. Joy's love-hate relationship with Los Angeles. So what, then, does "Sheep" have to offer us? Well, look no further than its title. The band are using "sheep" as a metaphor for conformists who are ignorant as to what's really going on politically in the U.S. of A. This could well be for Mt. Joy what "Born In the U.S.A." was for Bruce Springsteen. A song that sounds like a joyous anthem that's really anything but!


"This Life" by Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend are known for having reggae and world music influences in their music, and they occasionally flirt with baroque pop, as they did in "Unbelievers" and "Step". With "This Life", Vampire Weekend take their first official foray into folk-rock. The intro sounds a bit like Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl". Its subject matter, however, is much darker than "Brown Eyed Girl", and won't be likely to be played on adult contemporary or oldies stations anytime soon due its use of "Christ" as an exclamation (Though this might be similar to John Lennon's use of the same phrase on "The Ballad of John and Yoko"). That's only the tip of the iceberg as to the darkness this song has to offer, though. The song is about being cheated on. Ezra Koenig is also clever (and/or twisted) enough here to make grim, pessimistic phrases sound like cutesy rhymes. For instance, "I know hate is waiting at the gate", and, "I know death hasn't happened yet." Perhaps this isn't your cup of mud, but hey, as the song title implies, this is what life is! Like Forrest Gump has been known to say, it truly is like a box of chocolates...or in this case, a box of...I dunno...wasabi pellets!


"When I'm Gone" by Gary Clark Jr.: Gary Clark Jr. unleashed a torrent of righteous anger earlier this year with "This Land"! "When I'm Gone" is more mellowed out than that, but still retains the crackling blues-rock sound Gary has become known for. There's a bit of an old school soul vibe in this song as well with its use of rhythm guitar as a backing instrument. Nothing political or controversial about this song. "When I'm Gone" is just a song about what it's like to be apart from a loved one, and probably about being on the road as a musician as well. Perhaps after all that ranting and raving on "This Land", Gary felt the need to unwind for his second single of the year. Well deserved, I say!

April 17th 2019 part 2 - brand new for the week

Here's part two for this week's blog - the songs that are fresh outta the oven for this week!


"Everybody Here Hates You" by Courtney Barnett: For the Jeff Buckley fans here, yes, Courtney DID title this song as a cheeky response to Buckley's "Everybody Here Wants You". In contrast to the warm, sentimental vibes of Buckley's song, "Everybody Here Hates You" sounds more or less like you'd expect it to. It sounds grungy and jaded, albeit with a bit of bright, retro Beatlesque vibe as well. The lyrics are also negative (again, as you'd expect from a song with this title), centering around self-hate and how that can make other people hate you as well. Is Courtney upset about the prospect of this? Nah. Instead she revels in it, like a female human Oscar the Grouch. I guess some people just aren't happy unless they're unhappy!


"Got It In You" by Banners: I can't believe how people have come to know this song. It's from the medical drama series, "The Good Doctor", whose title character is supposed to have Asperger syndrome, THE SAME THING I DO!! Yes, folks, if you think I'm obsessive or quirky or otherwise strange (in a good way) when I write this blog, THIS is the reason why! The song comes on when the main character suffers from a breakdown. Ugh. Why can't there be shows about FUNNY people on the spectrum?! I would love for that to happen! But I digress. Is the song quirky or weird?! No, it isn't. Instead, it sounds like something you'd probably hear during the credits of a CBS or NBC drama, fittingly. Nevertheless, this song CAN be viewed as a way for Aspies (people with Asperger syndrome) to find encouragement when they lack it. If they know they "got it in them", it might help them to get through some of their weaker moments. What a coincidence this song came out during Autism Awareness Month, too. I wonder if they meant to do that. Not a bad song, but I'd prefer Radiohead or Beck to write something like this, not a more run-of-the-mill alt-pop band like Banners. And speaking of Beck...


"Saw Lightning" by Beck: That's right! Beck just happens to be our last entry of the week! This song could be called "Loser Part 2" with its use of slide guitar combined with hip-hop beats! It's impossible to beat out "Loser", but this song seems to be trying to do that! Catchy from beginning to end, and quirky from beginning to end. This is how Beck's fans seem to like him best, and that's exactly what he's doing here. After a soul baring previous entry, it's great to end this week's blog on such a good note!

April 17th 2019 part 1: Songs I've missed out on

A two-part blog for this week since I feel like I've missed out on the opportunity to review quite a few new songs. Here's part 1 of 2:


"Big Bear Mountain" by Jr. Jr.: The sweet, breezy piano vibe of this song harkens back to when Jr. Jr. were known as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and debuted with the light, quirky folk-pop song, "Simple Girl". A lot of Jr. Jr.'s other material seems to take somewhat of a techno slant, but this one does not. It probably wouldn't sound out of place on a Beatles record, actually, and it even contains a Lennon-esque guitar midway through the song, as well as a brief solo reminiscent of George Harrison. Nice to see Jr. Jr. getting back to their roots, even if they no longer bear their namesake in their moniker.


"They Own This Town" by Flora Cash: It seems like it'd be a bit hard for Swedish indie-pop duo, Flora Cash, to outdo their 2018 hit, "You're Somebody Else". The bittersweetness and blunt honesty of "You're Somebody Else" permeated alt and adult alt airwaves throughout the second half of 2018! This time, instead of opting for light, melancholy acoustic guitar like they did the first time around, "They Own This Town" bases its sound around piano instead. However, it still retains the poignancy that their previous hit did. Although there are more pop beats that surround "They Own This Town" than there are guitars, the message and vibe of the song still get across the way they should.


"UFOF" by Big Thief: You-eff-oaf?! Oo-foaf?! It's actually each letter pronounced individually, "You-eff-oh-eff", which stands for "UFO Friend". The song sounds like a folk-rock song from outer space, fittingly, with its ethereal aura surrounding its sweet and tender melody. "UFOF" is basically an ode to a "lover" the singer imagines she met in outer space. There's nothing scary about this song, though. In fact I'd say it's rather precious!

New songs for April 10th, 2019

Here they are:


"Gloria" by The Lumineers: Continuing in the tradition of doing song titles of girls' names ending with an "A" from their last album, it's only fitting that The Lumineers' latest song would be called something like "Gloria". As with the leading singles from their last two albums, "Gloria" has been storming both the alternative and adult alternative radio charts in less than a week of its release! Beneath the toe tapping, happy sound of "Gloria" are darker lyrics that sound like they're about someone who spent their time drinking too much. Lead singer Wesley Schultz asks the titular Gloria if she's "had enough" and tells her that there are "easier ways to die". A bit grimmer than the typical fare from The Lumineers, but after three albums, it's great to know they've still retained the musical charm they started out with!


"Night Running" by Cage the Elephant (featuring Beck): Matt Shultz (yes, ANOTHER person whose last name is pronounced "Shults", like Wesley from the previous entry) might be the main vocalist featured on "Night Running", but the music clearly seems like it was Beck's idea. Its techno-jazz-funk-rock-from-outer-space sound can be from none other! The eclectic musician makes his vocal appearances on the song during its chorus. The seemingly stream-of-consciousness lyrics also seem Beck inspired. Fitting to its title, "Night Running" seems like the perfect song to be playing at midnight during a party. Outta sight!!


"Saying Goodbye" by J.S. Ondara: Our last entry of the week is from a newcomer who was born in Kenya and raised in Minnesota who does achingly beautiful folk-rock music. His debut song, "Saying Goodbye", is probably the most poignant song on this week's blog. The chorus states that he's "just getting good at saying goodbye". I get the sense both from the title and from the mood of the song, as well as some of its lyrics, that this song is about a breakup. I do wonder what he's referring to at the end of the song when he says, "There goes my innocence", but he says it with such power and conviction that I just can't help but feel moved by it!

New songs for April 3rd 2019

here they are:


"Father Mountain" by Calexico and Iron & Wine: Yes, there are indie-folk bands who actually know each other! Calexico and Iron & Wine have actually known each other for awhile, but this is their first adult alt radio hit together. The words, "Father Mountain", sound almost like hippie-speak, as if it were a metaphor for nature. However, the "father" here is a literal one, with the song taking its title from the recurring line, "my father built a mansion on the mountain". As one might expect, the song blends the ultra-mellow vibes of Iron & Wine with the quaint country-rock of Calexico. The song appears to be about Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) and a girlfriend of his who lived in his father's house, named "Teresa" in the song.


"Get Out And Get It" by Devon Gilfillian: There's a bit of a '60s soul and '70s funk sound on this song, the debut song from Philadelphia native, Devon Gilfillian. The organ that resonates throughout the song gives it even more of a "vintage" sound. Apparently, the organ in the song reflects Devon's African roots, taking its influence from Nigerian music from the 1970's, and giving the song its unique, catchy flavor. The title of the song is exactly what Devon wants his listeners to feel like when hearing it. In other words, he wants them to feel like they're gonna "get out and get" the fresh soul grooves of this song!


"Patience" by Tame Impala: "Patience" is what Tame Impala's fans have been experiencing since 2015! Finally, their patience has paid off. And what has it brought us?! A song that sounds like it's from 1979, mixing disco music and Supertramp...yet at the same time, there's also a distinctly modern vibe to the song as only Tame Impala can bring it! Tame Impala are a clever and quirky enough band that "Patience" might just BE about how long they've waited to record a new song, or how long their fans have waited for such a thing to happen. The opening lines of the song are even, "Has it really been that long?" Yes, it has been that long. It's been four years. It's been worth the wait, though!


"Renegade" by Dylan LeBlanc: Not to be confused with 1970's rock anthem, "Renegade", by Styx...although this does have a slightly more rock vibe than Dylan's breakthrough single, "Cautionary Tale". Well, only slightly. Dylan LeBlanc's "Renegade" is still essentially folk-rock, but with more electric backing instrumentation. A bit stronger language than "Cautionary Tale", too, at least during the second verse, which is a bit of a shocker to me in what appears to be pretty laid back song. "Renegade" seems to be Dylan's attempt at doing "urban lyrical poetry" a la Bruce Springsteen. A bit of a grittier song than one might expect from Dylan LeBlanc, but it also adds more dimension and depth to his work.


"Trampoline" by Shaed: Being the "Simpsons" fan that I am, the first thing I think of when I hear the word, "trampoline", is Homer Simpson enthusiastically shouting, "TRAMPOLINE! TRAM-BOP-O-LINE!" Of course, Shaed's "Trampoline" has nothing to do with Homer and his eccentric family, but it's still funny to think about. What it's actually about is...well, not anything, really, but a bunch of sweet, dreamy imagery meant to sync with the sound of chilled out electro-pop. The lyrics and music match up well here, inviting the listener to dive into a pool of hypnotic emotions and sound.

New songs for March 27th 2019

here they are:


"Change" by Mavis Staples: Perhaps the most active "old school" R & B musician of the 2010's, Mavis has practically reinvented herself through the course of the 2010's while still keeping her old sound intact. Her latest, and perhaps last, song of the 2010's, "Change", has her close the decade the same way she started it, with a straight up blues-rock number! She kicked off the 2010's with a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Wrote A Song For Everyone". "Change", however, is an original Mavis number, urging people to improve their actions and their lives through a simple but catchy blues riff in E major. Here's hoping people will listen to the song's message and do what it says!


"Different Kind of Love" by Adia Victoria: Our only other song of the week also happens to be from a black female blues-rock musician. Unlike Mavis, though, Adia Victoria has only been in the music scene for a few years. Adia's breakthrough song, "Different Kind of Love", seamlessly mixes blues, pop, and rock into a single vernacular, in a similar manner to Elle King's "Ex's And Oh's" from a few years earlier. Adia playfully teases the listener throughout with her persistent "Who do you love?" The answer, of course, is Adia herself, but the answer is only hinted at and never revealed. Adia not only breaks down the walls between rock and soul on "Different Kind of Love", she also does so with a secret weapon known as temptation!

New songs for March 20th, 2019

here they are:

"I Was Wrong" by Bailen: Bailen isn't really doing anything new or different with their debut song, "I Was Wrong", but it's still a pleasant one to hear for those who enjoy contemporary folk-pop with electronic beats. The guy/girl harmony combinations are a nice touch for this song, and the girl has a solo singing part during the chorus. Not a whole lot of profound lyrics here to be found either, but not bad either. The most surprising part of this song is the brief electric guitar solo in the middle of it.


"Mettavolution" by Rodrigo y Gabriela: The best Hispanic instrumental flamenco-rock duo are back! They have had only one other release I've reviewed from them this decade, with 2014's "The Soundmaker". If it weren't for that song, it would have been a full decade that Rodrigo y Gabriela would have been on musical hiatus from adult alt radio stations. No other group combines flamenco and rock the way they do, and with their latest release, "Mettavolution", they keep their talent going! One way to distinguish R & G's songs from one another is to tell what key they're in. "Mettavolution" is in the key of F sharp minor, which hasn't been used for any other R & G song that's gotten significant adult alt radio airplay. The echoic distortion in the middle of the song also sets it apart.


"Missed Connection" by The Head and The Heart: The Head and The Heart were a wonderful group when they started out, but their third album went in more of a pop direction than I wanted them to. "Missed Connection" continues in that direction. The gooey yet catchy alt-pop sound is apparent right from the "la-la-la-la"s of the opening. This is probably the closest to mainstream pop that The Head and The Heart have gotten so far. The one entertaining thing about this song is how the pre-chorus sounds a bit like the irresistibly cheesy '80s pop song, "Rock Me Amadeus". Why they based "Missed Connection" on that song is anyone's guess, as it strays pretty far from the band's folk-rock roots, but perhaps that was intentional on their part.


"When Am I Gonna Lose You?" by Local Natives: While The Head and The Heart might be dumbing down their sound, Local Natives are actually improving theirs! Local Natives typically have hypnotic indie-pop and indie-folk songs, so they're already an alluring band to me. However, there seems to be something even more special about "When Am I Gonna Lose You?" Perhaps it's the way the pianos in the song flow so seamlessly into the vocal harmonies of the band. Perhaps it's just the bittersweet flavor the song gives off. Whatever it is, though, it's got me hooked! The lyrics are equally as poetic as the song itself, with such lines as, "I remember the trees summoned down by an archangel choir", and, "The ocean was all we could see and I knew that I wanted you." Pure beauty!

New songs for March 13th 2019

here they are:


"Lo/Hi" by The Black Keys: It's been 5 years since The Black Keys released something together! Can you believe it?! Has it been worth the wait? You bet it has! The psychedelic blues-rock boogie the band has become known for shines brightly on their latest song, "Lo/Hi". The song doesn't have much to go by lyrically, but what it lacks in spoken content it makes up for in terms of what people hear from it. The song's fuzzed out A major guitar riff recalls Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In the Sky", but with words that are more free flowing than they are religious or spiritual.


"You Had Your Soul With You" by The National: Our only other song of the week comes from Ohio quintet, The National. Their latest song, "You Had Your Soul With You", starts out frantic, but quickly settles down...kind of. There is a lingering sense of paranoia throughout the song, though. The song could be considered to be vaguely creepy by some, but in a riveting way that doesn't let you go, and in a way that makes you strangely compelled to listen to the rest of it. The National have always been one of the darker indie rock groups, and it just seems to get more and more obvious every time they release a new song. One more thing about this song: if the female voice in the middle of the song sounds unfamiliar to you, it's Gail Ann Dorsey, a former bandmate of none other than David Bowie!

New songs for February 27th 2019

here they are:


"Beloved" by Mumford and Sons: If you thought Mumford and Sons' Fall 2018 hit, "Guiding Light", harkened back to their original sound, then you're in for a real treat with "Beloved", which sounds even more like a "Babel" outtake than "Guiding Light" did! The song hovers closer to folk-rock than it does alt-pop, like the early M & S songs, and the poetic and nearly Shakespearean content of "Beloved"'s lyrics is a nice way to welcome fans back into the M & S circle. A few lyrics of the song are what some might call "ambiguously Christian" ("She says the Lord has a plan/but admits it's pretty hard to understand"), but it's not that different than most of the other Mumford and Sons lyrics that straddle the line between religious sincerity and the doubt that gives such songs "indie cred." The only real disappointing part is when they add more synthetic instrumentation in the middle, but on the whole, that does not ruin what is otherwise a fantastic song!


"Boom" by X Ambassadors: "Boom" is a song that last for just 2 and a half minutes and whose title is just 4 letters, but that does not stop it from being an aptly explosive song! This might just be the first X Ambassadors song to rely more on bass than it does on guitar (though you can hear some funky guitar licks during the chorus). "Renegades", "Unsteady" and "Ahead of Myself" all focused on acoustic guitar, and "Low Life" was an unusually blues-y electric guitar song, which gives "Boom" distinction among the other songs in X Ambassadors' catalog. The lyrics are pretty simplistic ("my feet go boom boom boom/my heart beats boom boom boom", etc.), but that doesn't stop "Boom" from being a catchy song!


"Clap Your Hands" by Galactic: Blues and jazz influence are defining features of Galactic's music. They are still present on their latest song, "Clap Your Hands", but they seem to be heading in more of a pop music direction than their previous efforts have suggested here. Thankfully they haven't completely shifted gears. There is still plenty for old school R & B fans and fans of New Orleans jazz to get out of "Clap Your Hands". Fitting for the title of the song, "Clap Your Hands" does contain a lot of clapping, which is probably what gives it more of a pop flavor than most Galactic songs have, but the band are still as jammin' as ever in this one!


"For Real" by Tom Petty: Legends never die! Last summer, a posthumous Petty song was released called "Keep A Little Soul", which sounded like a rock song from the early '80s because that's essentially what it was: an outtake of a previously unreleased Tom Petty song from the '80s. "For Real" sounds like it was done a bit later, and has a bit less of a rock and roll factor than "Keep A Little Soul" did, but it has nevertheless been soaring up the adult alt radio charts within a little over a week. "For Real" is a song that seems to reflect on Tom Petty's life and career in a very poignant manner. The fact that it sounds like a more recent song might be because that's what it probably is. Petty died 2 years ago, and this is more than likely one of the last songs he ever recorded. There seems to be a painfully sad self awareness that Petty has about the last moments of his life in "For Real", which can be compared to other recent post-mortem rock songs like David Bowie's "Lazarus" and The Cranberries' "All Over Now".


"Jingle And Go" by Ryan Bingham: Ryan Bingham is known for his country/folk sounding songs, like "The Weary Kind", but the songs of his that make the biggest impression on me contain a bit more of a rock and roll sound, like the frantic "Heart of Rhythm" and the Tom Petty-esque "Radio". On "Jingle And Go", Ryan seems to take a cue or two from The Rolling Stones circa the late '60s/early '70s. Imagine Mick Jagger's famous rock group with more of a country-rock sound, and you've pretty much got "Jingle And Go" in a nutshell. Eclectic rock guitarist Charlie Sexton provides "Jingle And Go" with its freewheelin' rock and roll sound.


"Ruby" by Strand of Oaks: Strand of Oaks' lead singer, Timothy Showalter, claims that "Ruby" is the happiest song he's ever written! That's pretty something coming from someone who did angst filled songs like "Goshen '97" and "Radio Kids". "Ruby" does not contain any angst at all, and is the softest song so far in Strand of Oaks' catalog. Ruby is also not the name of a person, but a personification of Showalter's past. The song seems to be a yearning for nostalgia for the most part. Given how jaded Strand of Oaks' material usually sounds, the song provides a much needed breath of fresh air the band has probably needed for quite a while now!